Obama to Address US Chamber of Commerce in February

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue.

/ David Bohrer/www.uschamber.com

CBS News has confirmed that President Obama will speak to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce early next month. The speech is scheduled for February 7th.

The chamber is a right-leaning trade group representing business that has emerged as a powerful and well-funded critic of Mr. Obama's policies. It has an annual budget of $258 million and spent tens of millions of dollars campaigning against Democratic congressional candidates last year.

The White House said Mr. Obama will use the address, at the chamber's Washington headquarters, to discuss the importance of working together on job creation and growing the economy. Mr. Obama met with a group of CEOs at the White House last month.

The speech comes roughly one month after Republicans, who have traditionally allied closely with business interests, took over the House and gained votes in the Senate. Just this week came word that GOP Rep. Darrell Issa, who will lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter to a wide range of companies and other groups asking them which regulations they would like to see eliminated.

One major sticking point between Mr. Obama and the chamber has been health care reform legislation. Health insurers reportedly gave the chamber more than $86 million in 2009 to oppose the legislation. The chamber has also strongly resisted administration efforts to pass a climate change bill and opposed its efforts on Wall Street regulation and tax policy.

In October, Mr. Obama took a shot at the chamber in the wake of a mini-scandal over its funding, saying, "groups that receive foreign money are spending huge sums to influence American elections, and they won't tell you where the money for their ads come from." The chamber does not disclose its donors but denies it used foreign money to fund campaign ads.

[twins-fan]

When Obama speaks, there only needs to be an audience of one, Tom Donohue. The US Chamber of Commerce is all about Tom Donohue and how he can profit by the demise of the American people.

I was once a member of two local Chambers of Commerce. I resigned from both because the US Chamber of Commerce exists for the profit and benefit of one person, Tom Donohue. And he is one of the most disgusting people on this planet. I did not want any money from me going to support him and his unethical projects in any way.

Years ago, there was big money in representing the Tobacco Companies even after it was exposed how deadly Tobacco is. That means the US Chamber of Commerce supported the Tobacco Industry for the benefit and profit of Tom Donohue.

Then there was found to be profit in fighting Global Warming on behalf of the Big Oil Industry and profit of Tom Donohue. Bingo! The US Chamber of Commerce enlists their support for Big Oil.

Now that money is running out from Big Tobacco, where does Tom Donohue profit? How does Tom Donohue make his payments on his corporate jet?BINGO!! Enter the Indian H1B Body Shops and the Silicon Valley Outsourcers! Now Tom Donohue can make tons of money by displacing millions of US workers on behalf of the Indian H1B Body Shops and the Silicon Valley Outsourcers.

[Rhondi1982]

And while he's there, the President might try asking about the over one million American tech workers who've been replaced by H-1Bs and other foreign workers here on guest worker visas. And the tens of millions of white and blue collar workers who got let go when their unit, division, or entire business was moved overseas. He might try asking why protectionism works so well for other countries, but we are supposed to throw America's breadwinners to the wolves. He might mention that the American people need to get back to real work, and not underemployment, and off the dole, real soon - or there won't be an America.

[codeitxx]

The US Chamber of Commerce is funded by major Indian outsourcers, that's why they are so pro-outsourcing and free trade(not to be confused with fair trade)

America needs to innovate from within..with heavy unemployment the government should cancel the following visas: H1-b, L1, OPT, EB1, EB2 and EB3 which allow foreigners to take American jobs. That's one way we can promote economic growth.
All I have to say is: the politicians that dreamed up NAFTA, CAFTA, and the like including outsourcing must have had rocks for brains to have ever thought those things would be good for our country. How in the world (no pun intended) could fair trade (what a joke) with all those other countries be good for us!!! It was the beginning of unemployment when those things were voted in. Our companies took off for the cheap labor, and our people lost their jobs. Personally, I would rather pay more for things and have Americans employed than to have cheap products from China that don't hold up for long anyway!!!!

Why is our government STILL bringing in 1.5 MILLION foreign workers a year?http://www.americanworker.org/ The vast majority of foreigners here on guestworker visas are ordinary white collar workers with common skill sets. Why, why, why????

http://www.youtube.com/user/crowdifornia

[earlysaid]

I am disgusted with the way the leaders of the Chamber of Commerce became a republican campaign donor giant. I am disgusted with their total worship of republicans who are not going to do anything for the average people in America or create any jobs are all the unemployed. They will do lots of good for the greedy and corporate types but that is not what America needs right now.

[jgg000101]

maybe they can talk about opening a chain of government owned and run shaved ice stands.

[abhorlibs]

This should be interesting. Some very good minds will get to reflect first-hand on a very accomplished liar's words, I am sure.

[jimbom121]

Sorry, but the smart companies have left the CofC...like Apple and Google.

[RobAla]

What does President Obama plan to say after trashing US commerce for 2 years?

[retm-w]

He's going to tell them how evil it is for business's to make profits.

[earlysaid]

President Obama sure did not trash the US economy for the last two years. The wealthy are getting a lot more wealthy, the stock market is sailing upward, and Wall Street is back on top with their vulgar million dollar bonuses. Any trashing happened before President Obama came to office and he has done everything he could to help with the Recovery Act where stimulus funds went to every state to help them through the recession. He pushed for unemployment insurance for those who lost their jobs in spite of GOP opposition. During the Lame Duck session Congress passed the end of Don't Ask Don't Tell, passed funding for 9/11 responders and again extended unemployment insurance. President Obma insured that there would be no tax cuts for the middle class and the GOP got their way on the millionaires and billionaires getting their tax cuts.

[davidd5063]

Republican filth denys everything until the facts come out and then they claim it's a "liberal" witch hunt.